Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-10-13

Julian Ralph in tho Philadelphia
Press pays a glowing and deserved
tribute to the good lady who is the
widow Of William III. Vanderbilt and
mother OF notable family. She is, h,
says, one Of the "plain everyday little
women of the kind men of sense most
admire, of the kind that supplies the
world with good mothers and wives --
one of those quiet, modest ladylike
bodies that one sees so many thousands
OF in big cities without really noting
them unless second glance reveals the
genteel plainness of their attire, the
tiimness OF their figures and almost shy
preoccupation Of their minds. Yet, il
one lived in an age of marvels or brig
ands, and this unimpressive little figure
was stolen from the city and held for
rabsome, she could bring her captors
S25, coo, 900, aye, four times as much,
and without impOverishing her family.
For as she was pointed out to me, |
was told she was Mrs. William II.
Vanderbilt. relict of the man who when
he lived was the richest man on earth
And yet she wore no diamonds, showed
no CLINT of gold or silver from head 10
feet, and she was walking the rest
Of us" OF the sons and daughters who
rise up to call her blessed. Mr.. Ralph
says further
Her daughters are something more
than mere women, and she has helped
them into good marriages. The boys
are all better than mere money grab
bers they are ambitious beyond and
apart from that. She bore Vanderbilt
eight children Margaret, now Mrs.
Elliot F. Shepard Cornelius, William
X, Emily now Mrs. Emily Thorne
Sloane, who was the great carpet deal
er Frederick W.. Florence Adele, now
wife of w. Nick Twomhley, the push
ing Westerner now in charge OF some
of the heavier Vanderbilt interest :;
Leila, who married DR.. VIM. Seward
WEBB, son of the old fighting editor,
DR.. James Watson Webb, and now
head of the New York Central car com
pany, and George w. the eight child
and fourth son. Not girl has married
what il England is called an "aristo-
crat," an idler. Every man.jack of
their husbands made his way in the
world before he married Vanderbilt.
The boys also took care of themselves.
The two elder sons, Cornelius and
William X, want TO enter public life
try to imagine the commodore or
William II. harboring such thought,
if you can. They want TO distinguish
themselves among and foI the people.
But for the Henry George movement
last year one or the other would have
been nominated fer tho mayor by the
Republicans but the brothers had
sense enough to see what an ugly fight
that would make. Cornelius works
harder than most very poor men. Like
President Cleveland, he cannot leave
details to subordinates. He is what
you might call the head of fiuance Of
the Vanderbilt system, chairman OF
the board of directors of the central
and Harlem, and deep in the RESPONSE
bility on the other lines. He is forty
years old and worth abou. $1,000, 600
When boy his father got hIm clerk
ship in the Shoe and Leather bank,
He refused a tour to Europe then be-
cause it would take him from his desk.
andhe is just as assidiuous now, so much
so that his friends fear his hurting
himself Fancy man worth seventy
five millions killing himself with work.
Queer world, isn't it ?